What’s Happening

Posted: Thursday, January 05, 2006

Best Bets

· First Thursday events today include a reception for the Patriotic Arts and Kenai Peninsula College student exhibits from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center in Kenai; a reception for “Rarefied Light,” an annual juried statewide photography exhibit, from 5 to 7 p.m. at KPC; a reception for a show of Sarah Glaves’ Italian postcards from 6 to 7 p.m. at Already Read Books in Kenai; a reception for Sondra Hecht, photography, fiber work and stained glass, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Art Works in Soldotna; and a bluegrass jam at Christ Lutheran Church in Soldotna.

· Kenai Peninsula College’s Kenai River Campus in Soldotna will host a spring semester open house from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today. The open house includes faculty demonstrations and question-and-answer sessions, displays of campus organizations and clubs, the opening reception for “Rarefied Light” from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Gary L. Freeburg Art Gallery, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 6 p.m. for the new 4,000-square-foot classroom addition. There also will be entertainment, door prizes and food.

Events and Exhibits

· Art Works in Soldotna has photography, fiber work and stained glass by Sondra Hecht on display in January.

· Frames and Things in the Blazy Mall in Soldotna has art by Brenda Schwartz of Wrangell and Bruce Nelson of Kodiak.

· Kaladi Brothers in Soldotna has a chess club that meets at 12:30 p.m. Saturdays.

· The Gary L. Freeburg Gallery at KPC has the statewide juried photography exhibit “Rarefied” Light on display through Jan. 27. · Mykel’s restaurant has Andy Hehnlin with egg tempera paintings as its artist of the month.

· The Kasilof Historical Society’s cabin museum is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays and has a resident carver at work those days, as well as historical displays. Area artists and crafters are invited to display their work at the cabin on weekends. The cabin is at Mile .5 of Kalifornsky Beach Road. For more information, call 262-0822.

· The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Information Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The center is on Ski Hill Road in Soldotna and has educational displays and occasional interpretive programs. For more information, call 262-7021.

· The Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center at 11471 Kenai Spur Highway has the VFW Ladies Auxiliary Patriotic Art competition including work from area high-schoolers, and work from Soldotna High School and Kenai Peninsula College students on display until Jan. 21. The center also has animal mounts, historic items and Native Alaska artifacts on display. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. For more information, call 283-1991.

· Veronica’s Cafe in Old Town Kenai has live music by Stefane Bouchard from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. p.m. today, the Bob Ramponi Jazz Trio at 6:30 p.m. Friday and Mike Morgan at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

· VFW Post No. 10046 in Soldotna has bluegrass jam sessions at 7 p.m. Wednesdays for members and guests.

Upcoming events

· Soroptimist International of the Kenai Peninsula will host its Soroptimist Gala at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Challenger Learning Center of Alaska in Kenai. The evening will include live music, hors d’oeuvres and a no-host bar. The dress is semiformal. The cost is $65 per person. Proceeds will benefit peninsula women and teen events. For more information or to purchase tickets, call Lori at 262-1834 or Annie at 262-6133.

· KPC Showcase will host Jill Fredston, author of the award-winning “Rowing to Latitude” book, for an evening slide show and reading based on her new book, “Snowstruck: In the Grip of Avalanches,” at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 12 in the commons at KPC.

· The Kenai River Folk Dancers will host a smoke- and alcohol-free community contra dance from 7 to 10 p.m. Jan. 21 at Kalifornsky Beach Elementary School. Live music will be provided by the Contra BanD. Beginners should come early, since the easiest dances start at 7 p.m. Participants should bring clean, nonmarking shoes and potluck snacks to share. Partners are not required. Admission is $5. Children under 16 can get in for free if accompanied by an adult. For more information, call Theresa Holland at 260-4171.

Films

· Call Orca Theaters at 262-7003 for weekly listings and show times.

· Call Kambe Cinemas at 283-4554 for weekly listings and show times.

Down the Road

· Fireweed Gallery will host an art swap through Jan. 14. It is open to the community. There is no commission on exchange items and 20 percent commission on sold items. For more information, visit art@fireweedgallery.com or call 235-3411.

Anchorage events

· The Anchorage Museum of History and Art has “Creating Alaska,” an exhibit commemorating the 50th anniversary of the writing of the Alaska Constitution that spotlights the events in Alaska’s history that led to statehood, through Sunday; “Gonna Sing My Head Off,” a solo exhibition of former Alaska artist Dale Fairbanks, through Jan. 22; and “Spot the Dog,” the annual children’s gallery exhibit, through May. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

What’s Happening submissions can be e-mailed to news@peninsulaclarion.com, faxed to 283-3299 or dropped off at the Clarion’s Kenai office. The deadline s 5 p.m. Mondays.